Truss and abdominal support



May 5; 1942- T. BENNINGFIELD TRUSS AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed Feb. 20, 1940 INVENTOR I j /zm ATTORNEYS Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUSS AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Thomas Benningfield, Buffalo, Okla.

Application February 20, 1940, Serial No. 319,961

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a truss and abdominal support and has for an object to provide a device of this character having a double abdominal support and a back support so constructed as to give the desired pressure where needed and to guard against slipping.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which each strap is so placed as to follow the contour of the body and afford comfort and efiiciency.

A further object is to provide a device of this character so constructed as to insure softness, form and durability and permit adjustment by merely turning the pad.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the truss and abdominal support looking toward the front of the device.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing one of the pads and showing the double structure of the abdominal support.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of one of the pads.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the pads shown in Figure 3 looking toward the right of the figure.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a pad of different shape than the pad shown in Figure 3, partly broken away.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the backing member which is received in the pocket of the abdominal support and carries the truss pad.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation showing a shoulder brace for holding the abdominal support and back support against creeping from applied position.

Figure 8 is a detail enlarged sectional view showing the snap fastener connection of the truss pad to the backing member.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, it) designates an abdominal support formed of an elongated length of fabric material folded longitudinally upon itself and secured together at the longitudinal edges to provide an outer wall H and an inner wall l2 forming a pocket to receive a backing member 13 to which a truss pad H1, or any number of such pads, is secured through the medium of snap fasteners later described which permit the pad to be turned and adjusted to apply pressure in the desired direction.

The device also includes a back support [6 formed with a single length of material adapted to embrace the small of the wearers back. The abdominal support is connected to the back support by Waist straps H, which may be elastic material or include elastic portions, these straps being sewed or otherwise secured to the ends of the back support. The free ends of the straps are engaged through strap loops I8 carried by the abdominal support and are terminally equipped with openings l9 which may be interchangeably received by snap fastener studs 20 carried by the backing member and projecting through openings in the outer wall ll of the pocket, as shown in Figure 1, to adjust the waist straps to the body of the wearer.

This abdominal support is also connected to the back support by hip straps 2i which are adjustably secured to the back support by snap fasteners indicated in general by the numeral 22, there being a plurality of socket members of the fasteners secured to the back support and interchangeably engageable with the stud member of a snap fastener carried by the end of the hip strap, or by other means. The straps are adapted to pass over the hips of the wearer and extend downward to the abdominal support In. The free ends of the straps are equipped with a plurality of socket members 23 of snap fasteners to interchangeably receive stud members 24 of snap fasteners carried by the abdominal support outer wall I I to adjust the hip straps to the person of the wearer.

The abdominal support is held against creeping upward from applied position by crotch straps 25 which may be elastic or have elastic portions and which are sewed or otherwise secured to the back support as shown at 26. These straps pass forwardly between the legs of the wearer and upwardly to overlap the abdominal support. The free ends of the straps are equipped with snap fastener sockets 21 adapted to interchangeably receive snap fastener studs 28 carried by spaced tabs 29 of double thickness which project downwardly from the bottom of the abdominal sup- Each truss pad l4 may be of kidney-shape, and is equipped with a snap fastener stud I5. The truss pad may be of circularshape, as shown at 30 in Figure 3. In the latter case a snap fastener stud member 3| is eccentrically disposed on the pad. In both cases the stud member of the truss pad is interchangeably received in a circular series of snap fastener socket members 32 secured to the backing member l3 and a snap fastener socket member 33 secured to the backing member disposed concentric within the circular series, and exposed through openings in the inner wall of the pocket, as shown in Figure 8, so that the pad may be adjusted accurately to the exact location where pressure is required. The backing member I3 is removably secured to the abdominal support or pocket, by the beforementioned snap fasteners 20 which project through openings in the outer wall of the pocket, as shown in Figure 1. These are the same snap fasteners to which the ends of strap H are secured. When the ends of strap I! are detached from the snap fasteners 20, the latter may be withdrawn through the openings in the outer wall of the abdominalv support or pocket to permit the backing member l3 being removed endwise from the pocket when the truss pads are to be adjusted.

The abdominal support and back support may be positively held against creeping from applied position by a shoulder brace or support comprising a back strap 35 which is adapted to extend downwardly along the spine of the wearer and which is provided with shoulder loops 36 adapted to pass around the shoulders of the wearer. A zipper 31 is applied to the back strap and shoulder loops so that the distance apart of the shoulder loops may be varied to suit various body contours of the wearer.

Since the operation of the device has been described as a description of the parts progressed, it is thought the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

A truss and abdomen support, comprising a belt, an abdomen engaging member removably securedto the belt and formed of a looped piece of material forming inner and outer walls, a blank of material arranged between the outer and innor walls of the abdomen engaging member and secured at its ends between the walls, a spring socket carried by the blank of material and extending through an enlarged opening in the rear wall of the abdomen engaging member, and a truss pad having a stud adapted to enter said socket.

THOMAS BENNINGFIELD. 

